LIVERPOOL’S Arabic Arts Festival has many reasons to celebrate this year – not least marking its 10th anniversary AND securing regular Arts Council funding.

Then there’s the appointment of Lebanese oud wizard Marcel Khalife, who appeared at the festival three years ago, as its inaugural patron.

“I’ve carried on being involved and following with great interest the festival schedules,” he explains of his decision to become a patron.

“And I’ll do my utmost to be part of this amazing venture to get cultures in dialogue with each other.”

Khalife should be salivating over this year’s line-up then, in a festival guest-curated by Eckhard Thiemann under the theme New Histories.

The theme was decided before the Arab Spring revolution, but has also responded to it by inviting artists whose work reflects on the position of the individual within politics, identities, geographies and religions.

Among the work is a photographic exhibition My Father’s House, at LJMU, which explores the Gulf through its architecture from the soaring towers of Dubai to the organically constructed houses of Yemen.

The featured artists include Liverpool-born photo journalist Tim Hetherington who was killed in Libya earlier this year.

Then there’s Egyptian artist Wael Shawky’s Cabaret Crusades, a re-interpretation of the Crusades using marionettes.

The music strand of the festival is as strong as ever, with a performance from Syriana – appearing with the RLPO at the Philharmonic Hall on July 7 where the music will weave its way against a striking visual backdrop from filmmaker Niccolo Piazza which blends film noir and surf guitars, spy novels and Cold War iconography.

Marrakesh master-musician Hassan Erraji kick-starts the festival at The Big Saturday at the Bluecoat next weekend, presenting new pieces with his band MoRoccan Rollers.

While also at The Big Saturday are The Property of Nadya Shanab, including Liverpool-trained and Cairo-based singer Shanab, who mix western acoustic, folk rock and Arabic music with oriental vocals to produce resonating melodies.

BBC Radio 3 World Routes Academy oud player Khyam Allami performs an evening concert at the Bluecoat on July 2 featuring tracks from his first album The Sound of Disquiet.

“I hope people come with open ears and an open heart to explore and be entertained by new sounds and new experiences,” says Marcel Khalife.

The festival line-up also features Lebanese performance artist Tania El Khoury and the UK premiere of Iraqi Ghosts at the Unity, which includes a riotous take on Disney’s Aladdin.

It all concludes with the Lycamobile International Family Day at The Palm House in Sefton Park on July 10, promising an afternoon of colour, dance, workshops and food including a live performance by RAI band Abdelkader Saadoun.

“At a time when political, geographical and cultural certainties are unstable, Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival investigates how artists create new imaginative spaces, where our histories and future meet,” explains curator Eckhard. “Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the work of these artists which encourage us to re-consider what we think we know.”